Hand digging implement.



No. 680,275. Patented Aug. l3, mm.

W E PHILLIPS HAND DIGGING IMPLEMENT.

Applet nmdrb 26 1901 (No Model.)

Invent ZQZM UNITED STATES XVILLIAM E. PHILLIPS, OF CHESTER, ENGLAND.

HAND DIGGING IMPLEMENT.

SEEGIFEGA'EILQH formingpart of Letters Patent No. 680,27 5, dated August 13, 1901. Application filed February 26, 1901. Serial No. 48,927. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWIN PHIL- LIPS, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Hamilton Hey, Chester, in the county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Digging Implements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to hand digging implements, and has more particularly for its object and effect to provide an implement which is light, requires less labor to use, and is more efiective in its operation on the soil and produces a better tilth.

It has also for its object to provide an implement which may be used with advantage for general digging purposes, including the lifting of potatoes and the like.

The digger is illustrated in the drawing, in which the figure is a perspective view of the implement.

The blade of the implement is made out of a single piece of metalsay steeland comprises a horizontal cross head or-bar a at the top, extending on each side from the handle part o,a central vertical bar b,extending from the top to the bottom of the blade, two vertical side bars 1), extending down at each side, an inclined bottom bar 0 at each side of the central bar 7), extending at an angle say at about forty or fifty degreesrem the central bar upward and outward, and a toe d, projecting down below the inclined entrancebar 0. The bars 0 at their lower edge of course form the entrance or cutting edge,

and theyare carried out on each side and project at 0 beyond the outside vertical edges of the bars I) for a substantial distance. The toe cl is tapered inward at its tip, which is preferably made with a cutting edge.

In the bars a and 0 holes a, and c are provided, respectively, and in these holes the ends of wires e may be fastened, which extend down over the opening in each side of the blade. These wires may be introduced and used more particularly with advantage when the tool is to be used as a potato-fork, and they obviously can be easily put in and taken out.

The functions and efiects of the construction or form of the implement as a whole and of the parts are as follows: The implement as a whole, excepting, of course, the handle openings on each side of the center enable the portion 0, constitutes a blade. The large tool to be used efficiently as a potato fork or raiser and at the same time make the implement light. The inclined lower entrancebars 0 enable the implement to be pressed into the earth with very little labor, and the outwardly-projecting corners c of the base c make'a cut down through the ground when pressing it down, which avoids friction between the earth and the outer vertical edges of the bars I) and also causes the implement toremove a greateramount of earth than the width between the edges of the bars 1). Thus a quantity of earth is raised in each action which is in width equal substantially to the width of the tool across the angles 0 and consequently for a given amount of earth raised a considerable weight of metal is saved over an ordinary-shaped spade.

The toe d serves as subsoiler, aerating the land without bringing much of the subsoil up, and producinga small underground channel at the bottom of the trench being dug, which will serve to carry off the superabundant moisture; besides, the trench being made uneven at the bottom by this too promotes the draining away of the Water.

The implement will thus be seen to constitute a combined digging-spade, potato-lifter, and subsoiler.

From tests made it is calculated that the resistance to the entrance of the implement into the ground is reduced to about one-six teenth of that of an ordinary spade with a horizontal or straight edge, and consequently labor, assisted by the lightness of the tool, is much reduced from that required for working an ordinary spade and time is gained, and, further, it enables a boy to diga plot of ground with greater case than a strong laborer can dig the same-sized plot with an ordinaryspade, and, moreover, he could dig it much deeper and produce a finer tilth, while the imple -m'ent in the hands of an expert workman will upon the ground as regards tilth, as above mentioned. Then double digging, which is considered so expensive, is unnecessary in light soils, as a depth of eighteen inches can easily be reached with this implement with only a small amount of additional labor.

described invention is 1. Ahand digging implement comprising a blade consisting of a horizontal bar a; 'a central vertical bar 6; outside vertical bars b;

upwardly and outwardly inclined lower bars 7 0, extending between the lower ends of the bars 1) and b, the said bars 0 being extended beyond the outside vertical edges of the bars b;'and the projecting too at extending down below the edge of the bars a; all the said bars and parts being integral with each other at the parts of j unctions therewith, respectively;

substantially as described.

2. A hand digging implement, comprising upper and lower bars, and vertical central and outside vertical bars, integral therewith, constituting a blade with an aperture between the said central, outside, and upper and lower bars, on each side of the center bar, and having the lower' entrance edge of the blade extended beyond the vertical out; side edges of the outside vertical bars; substantially as described.

3. A hand digging implement, comprising upper and lower bars, and vertical central and outside vertical bars, integral therewith, constituting a blade with an aperture between the said central, outside, and upper and lower bars, on each side of the center bar,

. and having the lower entrance-bars upwardly What is claimed in respect of the hereinand outwardly inclined from the lower part of the central, vertical bar, and extended be- ;yond the vertical outside edges of the outside vertical bars; substantially as described.

4:. A hand digging implement, comprising upper and lower bars, and vertical central and outside vertical bars, integral therewith, constituting a blade with an aperture between the said central, outside, and upper and lower bars, on each sideof the center bar, and having the lower entrance-bars upwardly and outwardly inclined from the lower part of the central vertical bar and holes in the upper and lower bars at parts between the vertical central and outside bars, adapted to hold wires to extend vertically over the said openings in the blades; substantially as de- WILLIAM E. PHILLIPS,

\Vitnesses:

ERNEST B. RoYs'roN, JNo. W. BRowN. 

